Compressor for cigarettes



Sept. 15, 1953 D. R. P. JACKSON COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 INVi/YYOI? 1). /e I? 5 MM M rm p T539537 D. R. P. JACKSON COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 Sept. 15, 1953 D. R. P. JACKSON COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 rrozueys 0. RP. JACKSON COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTES Sept. 15, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 R m m m Sept. 15, 1953 D. RQP. JACKSON COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 COMPRESSOR FOR CIGARETTE-S Donald Richard Patrick Jackson, Deptford, London, England, assignor to Molins Machine Company Limited, London, England, a British com- Application August 2'7, 1951, Serial No. 243,878 In Great Britain September 8, 1950 1 Claim. 1

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to compressors for cigarettes, of the kind used in compressing batches of cigarettes in cigarette packing machines.

Where cigarettes are packed in paper packets it is often the practice to compress the batch so that it tightly fits the packet with a view to obtaining a neat, tight and fairly rigid packet. Often the packet is first formed as a paper cup which may be thereafter closed, or left open at one end, according to the style desired, and similar packets are often made by folding a packet blank about the batch of cigarettes and securing the overlapping folds by adhesive.

According to the invention there is provided a cigarette compressor comprising endless bands between which a batch is moved in engagement with said bands and guiding devices for the bands whereby the cross-section of the space between the bands contracts from the inlet to the outlet of the device. The guiding devices may comprise plates or the like contacting with the bands and constraining them to assume the desired shape whereby the desired cross-section of the space between the bands at any position is determined. The bands may engage the batch in such manner as to constitute a driving or conveying device for the batch.

Normally two bands are sufficient, each engaging a broad side of the batch and side guides may then engage the edges of the bands and turn them, for example, substantially at right angles to the normal planes of the bands so that the batch is embraced on all sides by the bands.

With such an arrangement the cross section of the space for a batch of substantially rectangular cross-section may be defined by four flat sides with neighbouring sides joined by circular arcs of 90 in extent so that the space agrees with the round-cornered cross-section of the batch.

The guides may be adjustable so that the degree of compression may be varied and one band may b mounted for movement towards and away from the path of the batch so as to permit inspection, adjustment and the clearing of jams and like operations. At the inlet and outlet of the device the bands may be so guided as to flatten out and facilitate the entry of a batch into the device and the removal of a compressed batch.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a cigarette packing machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1 with someof the upper parts removed.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section showing details of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow E, Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 3, two opposed flexible bands I and 2 are provided, one above the other,

and the upper surface of the lower band is conveniently horizontal. The bands pass around small rollers 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively near each end of the device and suitable adjustable jockey rollers I, 8 and 9 are provided for tightening the bands. The feathered arrows on the views indicate the direction in which the batches move through the machine. The small rollers 3 and 5 at the forward or outlet end of the device may be arranged as driving rollers for the bands and these rollers may be roughened, knurled, grooved or otherwise surfaced to provide sufficient adhesion between the bands and rollers to effect positive driving of the bands. Alternatively, and as illustrated, the band may be positively gripped between two rollers 4, 8 and 6, 8 respectively at the inlet end of the device. The rollers are mounted on needle roller bearings 36 as indicated by the very small circles. The upper band is mounted on a framework I0, Figure 1, which is movable towards and away from another framework I I supporting the lower band and its rollers. Pivoting is a convenient arrangement for the upper frame so that it may be swung up for inspection and latched or otherwise fixed in the operative position. This is the arrangement shown, the frame Ill being pivoted on a shaft 12 and held in the operative position by a pivoted latch I3 having an operating handle I3 and stops M. The latch I3 has a roller I5 on it which is forced over a pin I6; roller I5 is adjustable lengthwise of latch I3, being secured in adjusted position theeron by nut l 5 The upper framework is so set with respect to the lower one that the vertical dimension between the opposed bands diminishes from the inlet to the outlet of the device and this convergence between the bands may be adjustable. As illustrated, dimension A is greater than B, Figure 3. Each framework comprises a fiat plate I! and IB, respectively, on which a band rubs and which serves to maintain the operative runs of the bands in proper position. To each plate there are fixed side guides I9 and 20 respectively and each pair of side guides converges towards the outlet end of the device, i. e. C is greater than D, Figure 2, the convergence being adjustable by the slots 2| through which screws 22 are threaded into any one of a series of openings 23. The side guides are slightly shorter than the fiat plates and so positioned thereon that the guides are towards the mid-length of the device, see Figure 2, and leave an inch or so of the fiat plates at each end free of said guides. The ends of plates and guides are suitably smoothed, rounded or faired so that the bands pass between them without undue wear.

There is thus provided a tunnel of rectangular cross-section, see Figure 4, which diminishes in both width and depth from inlet to outlet. As the bands pass over the plates and into the tunnel their side edges are turned as they meet the guides and inside the tunnel the two bands are shaped as shallow troughs, see Figure 4, together defining a cross-section of rectangular shape the corners of which are rounded by the natural curve assumed by the turned-up and turned-down parts of the bands. A batch 24, Figure 3, fed into the device, is engaged by the bands and conveyed and squeezed to the desired shape and size.

The driving arrangements are shown in Figure 1 where a gear wheel 25 on a shaft 26 driven from the mainshaft of the packing machine meshes with another gear wheel 21 to which is .fixed a sprocket wheel 28. A chain 29 on the wheel 28 passes round sprocket wheels 39 and 3| 4 fixed on shafts l2 and 32 to which the rollers 4 and 6 respectively are fixed. A jockey sprocket wheel 33 is provided mounted on a plate 34 which is pivoted on the spindle 28 of the sprocket wheel 28 and locked in position by a screw and slot device at 35.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cigarette compressor comprising a pair of endles bands between which a batch of cigarettes is moved in engagement with said bands, guiding devices for the bands whereby the crosssection of the space between the bands contracts ifrom the inlet to the outlet of the device, said guiding devices comprising plates contacting with the bands and constraining them to assume the desired shape, whereby the desired cross-section of the space between the bands is determined, said bands each engaging a broad side of the batch, and side guides engaging the edges of the bands to turn them, so that the batch is embraced on all sides by the bands.

DONALD RICHARD PATRICK JACKSON.

Name Date Fourness Dec. 31, 1946 Number 

